Drinking fountain attachment for water faucets



W. J. KNIGHT Nov. 6, 1962 DRINKING FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT FOR WATER FAUCETS Filed May 8. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGURE FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3 T H P N K I W JNVENTORQ BY W FIGURE 4 Nov. 6, 1962 w. J. KNIGHT 3,062,452

DRINKING FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT FOR WATER FAUCETS Filed May 8, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7 W. J. KNIGHT INVENTOR.

FIGURE 8 By W Nov. 6, 1962 w. J. KNIGHT 3,062,452

' DRINKING FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT FOR WATER FAUCETS Filed May 8, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGURE 9 I\\\ 32 Nk N 3| IO 32 43 42 I9 28 FIGURE u w. J. KNIGHT INV EN TOR.

United States Patent Office 3,062,452 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 3,062,452 DRINKING FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT FOR WATER FAUCETS William J. Knight, 2619 Greenfield St., Arcadia, Calif. Filed May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 108,375 Claims. (Cl. 239-25) This invention relates to drinking fountain attachments for water faucets, and more particularly to an attachment for water faucets which is operable without impedance to the normal water flow of said faucets to provide an upward drinking water stream in kitchen or bathroom faucets.

It is an object of this invention to provide an attachment for water faucets which includes a manually operable valve and external upwardly directed spout operable from said valve by which a drinking fountain may be had at the faucet without impedance of the water downfiow therefrom.

It is another object of the invention to provide a drinking fountain attachment for water faucets which is both economical to produce and simple to operate and will not be unsightly when attached to the faucets.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a drinking fountain attachment for faucets which screws onto the faucets readily and is equipped to receive other attachments thereto as well.

It is again an object of this invention to provide an easily manually actuatable attachment for water faucets by which an upwardly directed stream of water is made available while the normal downflow of water is unimpeded, and which may be readily attached to any faucet.

It is still another object of this invention to provide in a drinking fountain attachment for water faucets a simple resilient valve means forming an integral upspout outlet for the drinking stream and operable upon pressure thereon.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a drinking fountain attachment for water faucets including a resiliently urged closure means normally held in the closed position by said resilient urge and opened to the downflow stream of the faucet upon pressure to provide an upwardly directed stream of water for drinking purposes or the like.

These and other objects of this invention will become more clear from the specification which follows and the appended claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the drinking fountain attachment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the attachment shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cutaway side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view showing how the attachment of FIGURE 1 is aflixed to a faucet and how an aerator is attached thereto;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention showing additional details thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a cutaway side view of the attachment shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 shows a typical attachment of the invention to a typical faucet;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of another form of the drinking fountain attachment of this invention;

FIGURE 10 is a top view of the embodiment ofthe invention shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a cutaway side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 12 shows the embodiment of the drinking fountain attachment of FIGURE 9 as connected to a faucet and having a hose attached to the drinking fountain attachment.

When brushing ones teeth, some persons cup their hands under the faucet to get water for rinsing the mouth and drink from cupped hands; others use a glass. It is much more convenient if the water faucet be equipped with an attachment by which a small stream of water may be directed upward in a fountaindike stream for drinking or for mouth-wash purposes.

In FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4, to which reference is now made, such an attachment is shown. It consists of a cylinder or housing 10 which has an inner thread 30 near the top thereof and an outer thread 31 near the bottom thereof. Threads 30 are of such nature as to fit a standard water faucet end. Threads 31 correspond to' those of the faucet so that other items may be connected to cylinder 10, as further mentioned below. Cylinder 10 has a transverse bore 32 through the central diameter thereof, to accommodate the barrel 11 of a valve device 33 having a central communicating bore 16 terminating in an outlet aperture 14 to the outside of cylinder 10 and an inlet aperture 15 normally terminating within the wall of cylinder 10. A coil spring 17 is wrapped around and attached to barrel 11 at 18 and normally urges said barrel 11 to the position thereof shown in FIGURE 3, so that in the normal position, so indicated, inlet aperture 15 is closed to any flow of water downward from the water faucet 34 shown .in dashed lines. Cylinder 10 may be screwed onto .water faucet 34. An aerator 38 is connected to the lower threads 31 of cylinder 10. Aerator 38 includes a washer 37 and a baflle plate 36. Baffle plate 36 has several perforations 35 in it to permit water flow under pressure through the aerator 38.

Manual pressure on knob 13 of barrel 11 against the urge of spring 17 of valve 33, in the direction of arrow 21, positions inlet aperture 15 of barrel 11 within the flow area inside of cylinder -10, and positions outlet aperture 14 in the knob 12 on barrel 11 to the dashed position thereof shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, water flowing in the faucet down through cylinder 10 and aerator 38 enters aperture inlet 15 in valve 33 and flows on through bore 16 and out of outlet 14 in an upward stream as shown by arrow 39. When knob 13 is released, the'flow is shut off because inlet 15 of valve 33 is urged back into the wall of cylinder 10 by spring 17.

In FIGURE 4, the drinking fountain attachment cylinder 10 and aerator 38' is shown as coupled to a typical faucet 34. i

In FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8, to which reference is now made, another embodiment of the invention is shown wherein parts which correspond to those shown in FIG- .URES 1 through 4 are given the same numerical reference designations.

Here again, cylinder 10 with threaded portions 30 and 31 is provided, but has a single threaded bore 40 in the 'wall thereof. A guide tube 23 is threaded into bore '40. A valve rod '33 similar to 11 previously shown, but not having knob 13 on the far end thereof, now is inserted into guide tube 23 so that inlet 15 is normally held in the wall of cylinder 10 by spring 17, here urging valve rod 33 towards the outside of cylinder 10. Spring 17 is attached to the inner wall of cylinder 10 at 24. Inlet aperture 15 connects with outlet aperature 14 through the bore 16 in valve rod 33 and normally has no flow-through since inlet aperture 15 is within the wall of cylinder 10. When pressure in the direction shown by arrow 21 is applied to knob 12, rod '33 is pushed into guide tube 23 so that inlet aperture 15 is now in the water flow path through cylinder 10 when the cylinder is attached to a running water faucet 34 (FIGURE 8) and water flows through rod 33 out of outlet 14 in a stream 41, as shown in FIGURE 8. Upon release of knob 12, the water flow-through rod 33 is cut off because inlet aperture 15 thereof is returned to the position in the wall of cylinder 19 by the pressure of spring 17 on rod 33.

In FIGURES 9, 10, 11 and 12, a third embodiment of the drinking fountain attachment of this invention is shown, and here again, the parts forming the same functions as those in the other figures are give the same reference number designations.

The cylinder 10 has inner threads 30 in the upper portion and outer threads 3-1 in the lower portion thereof. A transverse bore 32 has inserted therein a two-part valve cylinder 42 having an inner communicating bore 16 connecting with outlet 14 outside of cylinder 1t), and a larger inner bore 43 communicating with bore 16, and thus forming continuous paths 16, 43 and 28 between inlet aperture 15 and outlet aperture 14. An upper flow aperture 25 connecting with larger inner bore 43 of valve cylinder 42 is drilled into the casing of valve cylinder 42. External to cylinder 10 in one surface of valve cylinder 42, a slot 26 is provided. Slot 26 is generally oval in shape and its longest dimension is in the direction of the longitudinal axis of valve cylinder 42. Inserted in bore 43 of valve cylinder 42 is a valve pin 27. Valve pin 27 has a guide pin 44 protruding through slot 26 in valve cylinder 42. A cross bore is drilled in pin 27 forming an inlet aperture 15 connecting with one end of longitudinal bore 28 (previously mentioned). A spring 17 is inserted between the inner end of pin 27 and the terminal end of center bore 16 of valve cylinder 42, within the larger inner bore area 43. Spring 17 normally urges pin 27 towards the outer diameter of cylinder 10. The travel of pin 27 is limited by the stopping of guide pin 44 against the outer end of guide slot 26. When pressure is applied to pin 27 against the urge of spring 17 in the direction of arrow 21, inlet aperture 15 is brought into alignment with input flow aperture 25 so that water flowing through area 19 of cylinder 10 will enter aperture 25 and into inlet 15 through connecting bores 28 and 43 into bore 16 and out of outlet 14 in an upward directed stream, as shown in FIGURE 12.

In FIGURE 12, the drinking fountain faucet attachment of FIGURE 9 is shown attached to a faucet with a hose 45 connected at the bottom end thereof, suggestive of a backyard use as a drinking fountain for children.

There have been shown three embodiments of a drinking fountain attachment for water faucets in accordance with the concept of this invention. Others may occur to those familiar with this art. The principal combination of a screw-on cylinder such as 10 which may be attached to a faucet such as 34 having any one of a variety of spring-loaded valve means such as those represented at 33 f FIGURE 1; 23, 33 of FIGURE or 42, 27 of FIGURE 9, generally comprise the inventive concept. The spring-loaded valve devices all have external outlets and normally shut-off internal inlets, held in the shut-off position by a spring such as 17. The valves are actuated by pressure thereon against the urge of spring 17 to bring the inlet aperture into the water flow so that water may enter the aperture such as 15, proceed through a connecting aperture such as 16 and out of an outlet aperture 14 communicating with the connecting aperture 16 to provide an upflowing fountain-like stream of water for drinking purposes or the like. In the usual application of the drinking fountain valve attachments for faucets, according to this invention, a restriction on the normal flow path of water is preferable through the faucet to which the drinking fountain attachment is connected. Such a restriction is best provided by an aerator 38 such as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. A similar aerator such as 38 may also be connected to the attachments shown in FIGURES :5 and 9. Any form of flow impedance device will providesufficient back pressure to operate the drinking fountain valves according to this invention. It may also be noted that cylinders, such as 10, used in the invention, may be inserted in the event that the faucet has internal rather than external threads.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A drinking fountain attachment for water faucets comprisIng a cylinder adapted for coupling to a faucet at one end and having a coupling means similar to that of said faucet at the other end thereof, said cylinder having a cross bore therein perpendicular to the axis of said cylinder; a spring-loaded valve inserted in said cross bore having a downward inlet, an upward outlet, and having a normally closed position and an open position within said cross bore; and an actuating means coupled with said spring-loaded valve whereby upon pressure upon said actuating means against the spring-loaded position of said valve, said valve is opened to permit a small amount of the water normally flowing out of said faucet when in use to be directed out of said valve upwardly as a drinking fountain stream.

2. In combination with a water faucet, a drinking fountain valve attachment comprising a cylindrical tube threaded internally at the top thereof for attachment to said faucet and at the bottom thereof to receive an aerating device, said cylindrical tube being drilled through transversely; a valve means inserted in said drilledthrough portion of said cylindrical tube, said valve means comprising a slidable hollow rod having an inlet aperture near one end thereof within said cylindrical tube and an outlet aperture external to said cylindrical tube, said inlet and outlet apertures being interconnected by the central bore within said hollow rod; and a spring attached at one end thereof to said hollow rod, the other end thereof seating against the inner wall of said cylindrical tube, said spring normally urging said hollow rod to a closed position wherein said inlet aperture is closed off by being positioned within the wall of said cylindrical tube and out of the flow stream of water in said faucet, said hollow rod being positionable against the urge of said spring to an open position wherein said inlet aperture is in the flow stream of water in said faucet and whereby said flow stream enters into said inlet aperture through the connecting bore of said hollow tube and flows out of said outlet aperture in an upward stream for drinking therefrom.

3. In combination with a water faucet, a drinking fountain attachment comprising a cylindrical housing; a slidable valve transversely positioned through a diametral axis of said housing, said slidable valve having resilient means attached thereto and seating against the inner wall of said housing; an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, said inlet and outlet apertures thereof being interconnected with a communicating passage through said valve, the inlet aperture thereof being normally positioned by the urge of said resilient means so as to be closed off by being within the wall of said housing, said outlet aperture being at all times outside of said housing and directed upwardly thereof; and pressure-responsive means coupled with said valve and positioned outside of said housing whereby when pressure is applied thereto, said valve is moved into said housing to position said inlet aperture within the stream of water in said faucet, the water flowing into said inlet aperture and out of said outlet aperture in an upward stream for drinking.

4. A drinking fountain attachment for water faucets comprising: a tubular housing having means at one end for coupling to a water faucet and means at the other end thereof for attachment of an aerator or similar article thereto, said housing having a central cross-bore; a feed through valve means slidab'ly inserted in said cross-bore and having a small inlet aperture, said valve having a normal position in which said inlet aperture is within the wall of said tubular housing, and thereby closed to the downfiow of water through said tubular housing; said valve means being movable within said cross-bore to bring said inlet aperture into said downfloW, said valve means also having an upwardly directed outlet aperture communicating therethrough with said inlet aperture, and a resilient means fixed at one end thereof against the interior of said housing and at the other end thereof to said valve means to urge said valve means into said normal position wherein said inlet aperture is closed to water downfiow, said valve means being manually slidab'le against the urge of said resilient means to bring said inlet aperture within said water downfiow of said faucet to permit a stream of water to flow through said valve means and out of said outlet in an upward direction.

5. In a drinking fountain attachment of the character described a valve comprising: a housing cylinder; a guide tube having an outlet aperture external to said housing cylinder and a keyway in a part of the surface thereof; a communicating inner bore within said guide tub in communication with said outlet aperture; a separate inlet pin slidably inserted in said guide tube, said inlet pin having an inlet aperture and a communicating bore therethrough; a spring inserted between said inlet pin and said communicating inner bore of said guide tube to urge said inlet aperture of said inlet pin to a normally closed position, said communicating inner bore of said guide tube and said communicating bore of said inlet pin being in communication and in alignment with one another; and a stop key positioned in said inlet pin protruding through and movable in said keyway to limit the motion of said inlet pin within said guide tube between said normally closed position and an open position thereof, whereby when pressure is applied to said inlet pin against the urge of said spring said inlet aperture of said inlet pin is moved into said guide tube to said open position and is thereby positioned in the stream of water to permit water to fiow into said communicating bore of said inlet pin, through said communicating inner bore of said guide tube and out of said outlet aperture in a fountain stream from which one can drink.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,075,373 Page Oct. 14, 1913 1,875,283 Trupiano Aug. 30, 1932 2,222,273 Worthington Nov. 19, 1940 2,474,286 Snyder June 28, 1949 2,749,930 Hyde May 29, 1956 2,899,137 Martin Aug. 11, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 274,528 Germany May 22, 1914 

